Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

Editor's Choice Main Category: Parkinson's Disease Article Date: 15 Jun 2012 - 15:00 PDT Current ratings for: 'Parkinson's Disease - Smelling Test For Early Detection' Researchers have now discovered that the sense of smell provides valuable indications. Hyposmia, i.e. losing the ability to smell for no known cause could be a markers for the non-motor signs of Parkinson's disease. Dr Ulrich Liebetrau, chief physician for Parkinson's consultations at the Neurological Department of Kliniken der Stadt Kln, declared at the 22nd Meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS) in Prague: "Smelling tests in doctors' offices are suitable for detecting hyposmia but so too are tests conducted in public places such as pedestrian zones." Parkinson's is a very common neurological slowly progressive disease that usually affects individuals aged between 50 and 60 years. In Germany alone there are about 300,000 people diagnosed with Parkinson's. Scientists still remain uncertain for the reasons of cell death occurring in the substantia nigra in the basal ganglia of the brain of Parkinson's patients, but suspect that genetic factors may be involved. The cell death causes a shortage of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which leads to loss of control over voluntary and involuntary movements. German neurologists from Cologne … Continue reading →

Glenn Batchelder, CEO, Civitas Therapeutics Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., an inhaled therapeutics company in Chelsea, has announced that it began a Phase 2a clinical trial of its lead product, an inhaled form of an existing medicine used to treat the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. The drug candidate, CVT-301, combines the drug levodopa (or L-dopa) with Civitas Arcus dry powder pulmonary delivery product. The company intends the combination to give immediate relief for motor fluctuations, or so-called off-episodes - the emergence of symptoms like muscle stiffness and slow movements despite taking medication. The company announced preliminary results of Phase 1 trials in January, which indicated that the drug was being immediately absorbed in patients, and was safe and well-tolerated. The Phase 2a study is being funded in part by a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research. Twenty-four patients will be enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, single dose, cross-over study that will look at the safety and tolerability of CVT-301. The study is designed to establish the dose for future clinical trials with CVT-301. We demonstrated pharmacokinetic proof-of-concept for CVT-301 in less than 12 months from launching Civitas and are now initiating this Phase 2a study in Parkinsons patients, … Continue reading →

From high to healing - ecstasy could help Parkinson's sufferers. Photo: Viki Yemettas A decade after ecstasy was hailed for its ability to enhance treatment of Parkinson's disease, a WA scientist has managed to modify the drug, eliminating its harmful effects. The development means the illicit drug could after all be used to reduce the side-effects of the most common treatment, levodopa. Levodopa restores movement in Parkinson's patients but also causes jerky, involuntary movements commonly associated with the disease. Advertisement: Story continues below At the beginning of the century a former professional stuntman proved ecstasy could improve his treatment but doctors warned it had no therapeutic value because it affected users' moods and killed brain cells. University of WA Associate Professor Matthew Piggott said his team's research, in collaboration with experts in Toronto, had managed to dissociate the positive and negative effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy. "By changing the structure of the drug we have a new compound structurally related to MDMA but ... not the other effects of MDMA that are well characterised and the reason why it's abused," Professor Piggott said. The new compound is called UWA-101 and trials on rats have shown it is … Continue reading →

(RTTNews.com) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) announced that data from studies of Azilect (rasagiline tablets) and Parkinson's disease or PD will be presented at the 16th Annual International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Dublin, Ireland, 17-21 June 2012. The company said the presentations include ongoing studies assessing effects of Azilect treatment on motor and non-motor PD symptoms, both as monotherapy and when added to ongoing dopamine agonist therapy. Azilect tablets (rasagiline tablets) are indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease both as initial therapy alone and to be added to levodopa later in the disease in patients with end-of-dose fluctuations. The company noted that patients should not take Azilect if they are taking meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene, dextromethorphan, St. John's wort, cyclobenzaprine, or other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as it could result in a serious reaction. Side effects seen with Azilect alone are flu syndrome, joint pain, depression, and indigestion; and when taken with levodopa are uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), accidental injury, weight loss, low blood pressure when standing, vomiting, anorexia, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, and fall. For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com http://www.rttnews.com Read … Continue reading →

JERUSALEM, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) today announced that data from studies of AZILECT (rasagiline tablets) and Parkinsons disease (PD) will be featured at the 16th Annual International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders in Dublin, Ireland, 17-21 June 2012. More than fifteen abstracts will highlight data from ongoing and completed studies of PD and AZILECT, a MAO-B inhibitor for the treatment of PD, in the areas of pre-clinical, clinical and health economics research. We are proud of the variety of topics and quality of research results that will be presented at MDS this year, said Dr. Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. We are committed to ongoing collaboration with academia, medical institutions and patient advocacy groups to continue our understanding of the role AZILECT may play in the treatment landscape for the PD community patients, their families and friends, and healthcare professionals. Presentations include: Ongoing studies assessing effects of AZILECT treatment on motor and non-motor PD symptoms, both as monotherapy and when added to ongoing dopamine agonist therapy: New clinical trial results: ABOUT AZILECT AZILECT tablets (rasagiline tablets) are indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms … Continue reading →

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PsychoGenics Inc. today reported positive results from a clinical study of eltoprazine in levodopa induced dyskinesia (LID) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Eltoprazine met the primary objective of the study by exhibiting a statistically significant reduction in LID at the 5 mg dose (p = 0.0007) and the 7.5 mg dose (p = 0.0467), without adversely affecting levodopa efficacy. Eltoprazine was also well tolerated in this study and there were no serious adverse events. Eltoprazine is a selective 5-HT1A/1B partial agonist. Pre-clinical data from multiple models of PD show that eltoprazine effectively reduces LID at relatively low doses. Chronic administration of eltoprazine for 45 days shows not only suppression of LID and no tolerance but also protection from development of dyskinesias. In addition, other preclinical and clinical data support the use of eltoprazine to treat the non-motor symptoms of PD such as cognitive impairment and depression. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study conducted at two sites in Sweden, twenty-two patients were given single doses of eltoprazine and placebo along with a challenge dose of levodopa at each of the 5 treatment visits and assessed for parkinsonian and dyskinesia symptoms over a period of three hours post-treatment. … Continue reading →

MERIDIAN When the Meridian Parkinson's Disease Support Group first met a few months ago there were only four people in attendance who suffer from the debilitating condition. The last meeting of the group saw 50 people show up looking for mutual support, information and peace of mind. Needless to say, Jimmy Gossett, one of the founding members of the group, was both astonished and pleased at the response. "It is so nice to meet so many people who have the same condition as you," said Gossett, explaining he doesn't wish the disease on anyone. "But when you have this kind of problem, having friends and meeting new ones who through sheer numbers can build you back up, that is a nice thing." With each new group meeting, Gossett said more and more health professionals work to assist in any way they can. Gossett said in the upcoming meeting, set forTuesday, June 12 at 10 a.m.at the Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Meridian, three health professionals will be on hand to lend their expertise in the realm of Parkinson's Disease (PD). "We will have physical therapists and speech pathologists on hand to help with information on what we face as PD … Continue reading →

Researchers in Vienna are starting a Phase I trial on the first ever vaccine with a potential to treat the neurodegenerative disease. By Bob Grant | June 7, 2012 Alpha-synuclein accretions (brown spots) accumulate in the brains of Parkinson's patientsWikimedia Commons, Jensflorian A new vaccine that has the potential to treat Parkinsons disease is entering a Phase I clinical trial in Vienna. The first-of-its-kind vaccine, PD01A, aims to ramp up an immune response to the alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) protein, which is involved in the onset and progression of Parkinsons. Austrian biotech AFFiRiS is testing the vaccine with support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Worldwide, for the first time immunotherapy is applied for the treatment of Parkinsons, AFFiRiS CEO Walter Schmidt said in a statement. PD01A is the first medication worldwide aiming for clinical efficacy by modulating the metabolic pathway of alpha-syn. Hat tip to Medical News Today. By Cristina Luiggi The regulatory agency will allow early-stage breast cancer patients to try experimental drugs previously reserved for those with advanced disease. By Bob Grant A genetic testing company fields concerns that their latest gene patent goes against their core beliefs regarding access to genetic information. Read more from the original source: … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Parkinson's Disease Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines Article Date: 06 Jun 2012 - 10:00 PDT Current ratings for: 'First Vaccine For Potential Treatment Of Parkinson's' 5 (3 votes) The study, supported generously by the US-American Michael J. Fox Foundation, will test PD01A on up to 32 patients with Parkinson's disease. The primary endpoints of the trial are safety and tolerability of PD01A. PD01A is the first vaccine in the world designed to treat Parkinson's rather than improve symptoms of the disease. The vaccine targets a protein called alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) which plays a vital role in the onset and progression of Parkinson's. The aim of the vaccine is to instruct the immune system to produce antibodies directed against alpha-syn. Dr. Walter Schmidt, CEO of AFFiRiS, explained: Even in its preliminary states this new treatment concept was highly appreciated, as the renowned Michael J. Fox Foundation assented financial support to a total of USD 1.5 million. Hence, this is one of the few projects outside of the USA considered worthy of support by the foundation." Although there are medications that impact the symptoms of Parkinson's, none of them are able to modify the course of the … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Parkinson's Disease Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Article Date: 05 Jun 2012 - 14:00 PDT Current ratings for: 'Parkinson's Disease Vaccine Human Trial' 4.2 (5 votes) The company hopes the vaccine may deliver a causative treatment for Parkinson's. Its development has been generously supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The trial's primary endpoints are tolerability and safety of PD01A. According to AFFiRiS, the vaccine candidate, PD01A, represents "..the first agent worldwide aiming disease modification of Parkinson's rather than addressing symptomatic improvement only. PD01A targets a protein called alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) which plays a key role in the onset and progression of Parkinsons." PD01A is designed to teach the body's immune system to generate antibodies that target alpha-syn. The trial, involving 32 patients, will be carried out at the Confraternitt Privatklinik Josefstadt in Vienna, Austria. AFFiRiS CEO, Dr. Walter Schmidt, said: Even in its preliminary stages this new treatment concept was highly appreciated, as the renowned Michael J. Fox Foundation assented financial support to a total of 1,5 Mio. USD. Hence, this is one of the few projects outside of the USA considered worthy of support by the foundation." The company … Continue reading →